January 1 marks the effective date for many new laws passed by legislatures in the previous calendar year. While individual statutes (or subsections of statutes) may include language indicating that they will take effect immediately upon passage or at a different specified point in time, most jurisdictions have a default time period for new laws to take effect if the text does not otherwise specify an effective date. See charts of the general dates at LegiScan and StateScape.
January 1 is the general effective date for laws passed in the states of California, Oregon, and Illinois (at least for laws enacted prior to May 31). Other popular dates for new state laws to usually take effect are August 1, October 1, or 60–90 days after enactment or legislative adjournment.
The North Carolina General Assembly maintains annual Effective Dates compilations on its website, with the 2025-26 document available here. New laws or portions of laws taking effect on January 1 in North Carolina include changes to the licensing process for certified public accountants, sections of the SCRIPT Act on pharmaceutical insurance coverage, and revised definitions related to biological sex, passed in an override of Governor Stein's veto. The new North Carolina Investment Authority, a five-member independent board charged with overseeing public pension investments, will also begin its work.
Other states' laws taking effect on January 1 include California's prohibition on law enforcement officers concealing their identities with a mask. California also will tighten its plastic bag ban and join other states in banning the practice of declawing cats, among other new laws highlighted by the San Francisco Chronicle. Tennessee passed new restrictions on hemp and other cannabinoid product sales. New Jersey will increase both its minimum wage and its Turnpike tolls. Georgia will implement a similar change to CPA licensing as North Carolina; industry groups approved model legislation on the topic last spring.
Labor and employment law firm Littler created a roundup of state employment law changes happening in the New Year. These include Delaware's new mandate for 12 weeks of paid family leave. Texas HB 149 added a regulation on the use of AI systems to prevent discrimination. Montana grocery stores will be able to deliver beer and wine to consumers via third-party services.
To locate recently enacted laws from a particular state, visit that jurisdiction's legislative website (easily linked at Cornell's Legal Information Institute) to look for links to session laws or recently enacted bills. Members of the Law School community can also access state legislative materials and recently enacted laws in the state jurisdictional menus of Westlaw, Lexis, and Bloomberg Law. For help locating or navigating state legislative resources, be sure to Ask a Librarian.